Used Mercedes-Benz SL 1993 - 2002 reliability

Category: Sports car

The Mercedes SL is quick, comfortable and well-built

Mercedes-Benz SL Open (93 - 02)
  • Mercedes-Benz SL Open (93 - 02)
  • Mercedes-Benz SL Open (93 - 02)
Used Mercedes-Benz SL 1993 - 2002 review
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by
Steve Huntingford
Published01 January 2006

What should I look for in a used Mercedes SL-Class sports?

There's a whole host of potential problems, kicking off with automatic gearboxes that can jump out of gear. If the problem is terminal, you'll be looking at a repair bill in excess of £3000.

Also, look for rust around the base of the hood and check that the air-con systems work, as they can be a little temperamental and costly to fix. Likewise, some models have had problems with the dashboard bulb failure warning light showing when all the bulbs are fine, and the sat-nav system is a little unwieldy even compared with aftermarket units.

Try to avoid models that have high mileage and those where the leather is starting to look a little worse for wear; anything that has an unreasonable amount of smoke coming out of the exhaust is going to cost you dear later on, too.

And, if you're looking at a 1995-96 model, check that the work set out in the 2001 recall (following some instances of airbags deploying unintentionally) has been done.

What are the most common problems with a used Mercedes SL-Class sports?

Is a used Mercedes SL-Class sports reliable?